Spain braces for record May bank holiday traffic chaos this weekend
Spain’s roads are preparing for a surge in traffic as the May bank holiday weekend begins. Over 6.04 million long-distance trips are forecast between Thursday afternoon and Sunday night. Authorities have warned of heavy congestion on key routes during the busiest travel period of the year so far. The first wave of travel, known as operación salida, kicks off at 3:00 pm on Thursday, April 30. This marks the start of the most intense outbound movement, with the highest traffic volumes expected on Thursday afternoon and evening. Radial motorways out of Madrid—including the A-1, A-3, A-4, A-5 and A-6—will face the greatest pressure as drivers head towards holiday destinations.
In Catalonia, the AP-7 motorway is likely to see long delays, particularly towards coastal areas. The Valencian Community will also experience congestion, with the AP-7 and A-7 routes towards Alicante and Castellón bearing the brunt of the traffic.
The return phase begins on Sunday, May 3, with sustained pressure building from 4:00 pm. The busiest period is expected between 4:00 pm and 11:00 pm, as travellers make their way back to major cities. Motorways leading into Madrid and Barcelona are set to see the worst of the congestion before the operation officially ends at midnight. The holiday weekend will test Spain’s road network, with millions of vehicles moving across the country. Traffic will peak on Thursday evening and again on Sunday night, affecting both outbound and return journeys. Drivers have been advised to plan ahead and expect delays on the most heavily used routes.
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